Words From Yukon is a monthly
feature of the Yukon Jack Outfitters web site. Yukon Jack is a full-time
fishing and hunting and guide in Eagle River, Wisconsin, and will use
these articles to share some of his experiences with you!
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SPRING WALLEYES by YUKON JACK With the general fishing season opener the first weekend in May, fisherman turn their thoughts to walleyes. More hours of fishing time is spent by fisherman duing the month of May for walleyes then perhaps the rest combined. Walleyes will spawn on most lakes on the north and east shores although the bottom conditions will dictate exactly where the spawning areas will be. Walleyes perfer rock and rubble with gentle sloping bottoms. They will also spawn on shallow midlake humps that have ideal bottom conditions and surprisingly walleye will spawn on silt or mud mottoms. With this in mind you have an idea where the fish will spawn and where to find them. After spawning, the walleyes will retreat to an adjacent deep water area and rest for several days. I have found these deep areas hold numbers of fish but they are extremely difficult to catch. After a rest period they move back to the spawning area and they feed very aggresivly. New emergent weeds in the spawning areas are great places to look for fish. The midsummer coontail beds from last year are a good place to start. Do not be afraid to fish very shallow water, although sometimes I cast the bait on the shoreline sand and pull back into the two-foot depths. EQUIPMENT & TECHNIQUES A medium light 6½ to 7 foot spinning rod rigged with six or eight pound line and sixteenth ounce jig tipped with a fathead minnow will do the trick. On windy days I use a 1/8 ounce jig. If fishing heavy wood on the bottom I switch to a weedless 1/16 ounce jig. This will not ensure that you will not snag up, but I find that I lose half the jigs as I would fishing with a plain jig. Work the bait slow because the fish are tired and with the colder water there metabolism is slower. If you hit a school of aggressivly feeding fish, the strikes are easy to detect, but if the bite is subtle the pickup is hard to detect. This is where a good rod is important. The difference between a St. Croix premier, Avid, and Elite rod is noticable. Keep in mind that the smaller fish are the best eaters and the larger fish are the reproducers. The future of your fishing depends on how you personally manage what you catch. |
Keep a tight line, YUKON is a fishing and hunting guide located in
Eagle River, WI and can be reached at 715-479-3219
For Guide Bookings and
Other Information, Contact:
(715)479-3219
1857 Scattering Rice Lake Road
Eagle River, Wisconsin 54521
www.yukonjackegv.com
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